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Port Blair's seaside promenade, one of the few pleasant bits of town

Port Blair is capital and largest city of the Andaman and Nicobar island group, with a population of around 100,000.

[edit] Understand

Given the beauty of the rest of the Andamans, Port Blair is a depressingly ugly and dirty place no different from any other smaller Indian city, although the seaside has been tarted up a bit. Aside from Cellular Jail, there isn't really any need to spend more time here than absolutely necessary, although many travelers will find themselves overnighting while waiting for their flight or ferry.

[edit] Get in

See Andaman and Nicobar for information on flights and ships from the mainland.

[edit] By plane

Port Blair's Vir Savarkar Airport (IATA: IXZ) is located about 2 km south of the city. Taxis and autorickshaws wait outside the terminal at flight times. Public buses can be flagged down on the main road just outside the airport ( cross the road) . A bus to Aberdeen Bazaar will cost no more than 7Rp. The terminal is small and reasonably modern, with an air-conditioned departure hall, but aside for an overpriced kiosk selling chai and crisps there's not much to tide you over if your flight is delayed.

Helicopters used to run from Little Andaman once per week but were grounded after it was ravaged by the tsunami. Check with Pawan Hans/Air Deccan to see if they've started up a new service.

[edit] By bus

Buses connect Port Blair with other points on Grand Andaman, including Baratang Island (2.5 hrs), Rangat (8 hrs) and Diglipur (10 hrs).

[edit] By sea

Various ferries run between area islands:

• Havelock Island 2-3 times daily from Phoenix Bay, Port Blair. Fast boat 2.5 hours, slow boat 4 hours.
• Neil Island once a day, 1.5 hours. Some boats go from Havelock.
• Little Andaman. Several times weekly from Hut Bay, takes 8 hours.
• Long Island. Several times weekly and takes 8 hours. This ferry continues on to Ranghat on Middle Andaman.
• Diglipur. A few times weekly and takes 10 hours, overnight.

[edit] Get around

• Walking is a good option - Port Blair is a fairly small town.

• Auto-rickshaws are abundant, and within town should cost Rs 20-40.

• Local buses are also available for inter-city and intra-city travel. Very cheap, but you'll need to ask around to figure out the routes.

• Scooters & motorcycles are available for hire from a few shops around MA Rd. Ask around, and also try your hotel.

• Private hire cars are available for local sightseeing around Port Blair and South Andaman.

• Boats are available to destinations like Ross Island. You can also pay the local fishermen to take you on day trips to mangrove creeks (Bridget Creek is nice) or places like Mt Harriet National Park (where you can beach your boat and go birdwatching). Don't pay more than Rs 2000/day for the boat, and you can often bargain it down to much less. Be sure to check with the Forest Dept before heading out, as many destinations require certain permissions.

[edit][add listing] See

Cellular Jail

• Cellular Jail, [1]. Built by the British to house political prisoners far away from the mainland. All prisoners were kept in isolation cells and subjected to a brutal work regime, with regular whippings and executions. Briefly taken over by the Japanese during WW2, who added outright torture to the palette. Today, however, the jail has been transformed into an immaculately kept national monument complete with a garden that seems very much at odds with the horror of the place. A light-and-sound show in Hindi and English available in the evenings. Entry Rs. 20, closed Mondays.

• Corbyn's Cove - an ok beach, and the closest to Port Blair, popular with locals for swimming and watching the sun set. However, part of the beach was washed away by the 2004 tsunami and currents can be very strong, so be careful if you decide to swim.

• Mini Zoo - A small zoo containing some species only found on the islands. Very shortly it is going to be shifted to its new place at Chidiya Tapu.

Japanese bunker

• Japanese Bunkers, near Corbyn's Cove. Bunkers built by the Japanese army during World War II. There's one more right down the hill from Cellular Jail.  edit

• Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) - It is about four km away from Airport. CARI Scientists are conducting research on different aspects of Island Agriculture. Landscaping of CARI is very beautiful and it is worth seeing. Here you can see farms of different livestocks and poultry viz. Cattle, Pig, Goat, Rabbit, Turkey, Quail, Guinea Fowl, Duck, Fisheries Ponds, Integrated Farming System model etc and fodder blocks as well.

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Jewelry, wood-carvings and Port Blair t-shirts are available around Aberdeen Bazaar.
• Samudrika (Govt. Emporium). This is a govt. emporium, ask anyone for directions. Autowala will take you there.  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Annaporna Cafeteria, Aberdeen Bazaar (after Hanuman Temple, 200-yards from Clock Tower, Opposite Police Station.), ☎ 234199. Pure vegetarian restaurant, offering both South and North Indian food. Cheap.  edit

• Icy Spicy, [2]. Punjabi-style north Indian food, with veg food. And a Sweets and Chaat counter.

• Katubomman (Pure Veg.), Aberdeen Bazaar (Opposite SBI ATM. {100 yards from Clock Tower, before Gurudwara}). Vegetarian South Indian food.  edit

• Lighthouse Residency, MA Rd (near Aberdeen Bazaar). One of Port Blair's best restaurants, with a good (Indianized) Chinese-Thai menu and North Indian favorites. The speciality here is fresh seafood; check the price and pick your fish. The tandoori masala fish is outstanding, and they also have one of the few decent bars in Port Blair. Rs.50-200.

• Mandalay Restaurant, Fortune Resort, Marine Hill. The Fortune Resort restaurant but caters to non-guests. Not cheap but the food is quite good, the location peaceful, and the view is excellent. Does a good buffet for breakfast at about Rs 250.

• New India Cafe, MA Rd, (near Jagannath Guesthouse). A cheap, local eatery, great if you're on a budget. Thalis available.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Coconut water (daap or naaryal pani) is available everywhere for Rs. 8-10.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Thanks to the early-morning scheduling of most flights and ferries from Port Blair, many hotels have an 8 AM checkout policy. The good side of this is that it's generally not a problem to check in early either.

[edit] Budget

• Aashiaanaa Residency Inn, Marine Hill, +91 9474 217 008. This family run place has spotless rooms and is at a great location (two mins. uphill walk from Marine Jetty).

All rooms come with cable-TV, attached bathroom and some with a balcony giving a view over the marina or city. Non-AC 300-500 Rs and AC 800-1000 Rs.

• Andaman Teal House, Delanipur, Port Blair, ☎ 232642, 234060, 234061, [3]. AC (D/B) Rs. 800/- NAC (D/B) Rs. 400/-  edit

• Central Lodge, Link Rd, +91 3192 233 632. Very basic but some rooms have nice character... and some are dank, so look at a couple if possible. Very popular with budget backpackers and those that haven't left India since they came in 1964. Rs 80-120.

• Jagannath Guesthouse, MA Rd, +91 3192 232 148. Very basic but popular with locals and travelers. Some rooms may stretch the definition of "clean". Rs 200-500.

• Youth Hostel, Aberdeen bazaar, +91 3192 232 459. Dorms Rs 50, rooms Rs 100.

[edit] Mid-range

• City King Palace, +91 99332 52389, +91 (0) 3192 233320. Rooms are neat and air-conditioned. Rs 1000-1200.

• Lighthouse Residency, 11 MG Rd, ☎ +91 3192 237317, [4]. checkout: 8:00 AM. Opened 2004, recently completed a somewhat haphazard renovation. Tolerably clean, but don't be afraid to ask to see a few rooms before you pick one. All aircon rooms, Rs.1000/1200 for standard/sea view. 1200.  edit

• Shompen Hotel. Neat a/c rooms. Rs 1000-2000.

[edit] Splurge

• Fortune Resort, Marine Hill, +91 (0) 3192 234 101, [5]. The first chain hotel in Port Blair, great sea views but rooms are desperately in need of renovation. Has a bar and a restaurant. US$70-170, credit cards accepted. Note that locally this hotel is known mainly as "Bay Island" and asking rickshaw drivers to take you to "Fortune Resort" often results in confusion.

• Sinclairs Bayview, (033)22801317, [6]. On the seafront, but far from the center — not necessarily a bad thing.

[edit] Get out

• Baratang Island - mud volcano, limestone caves, and parrots, 2.5 hrs by bus and ferry from Port Blair

• Barren Island is a volcano island and the only volcano in India. Day trips can be arranged from Port Blair. No additional permit is required to visit the island, however it is not possible to set foot on the island, only to view it from the boat.

• Chiriya Tapu - a small fishing village with good snorkeling, located at the southern tip of South Andaman. Buses run several times per day from Port Blair and take 1.5 hours, or rent a scooter and drive yourself. The best snorkeling is at a beach about 2km south.

• Ross Island - once the capital under British rule, it was moved to Port Blair after a 1940s earthquake. A great 1/2 day side trip from Port Blair.